John Hicks Florence Sr. (1868 - 1938)

Born 14 Jun 1868 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt County, Texas, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Isabel Kathleen (Best) Florence — married 15 Jul 1889 in Dallas County, Texas, USA

Husband of Estella Jilson (Bailey) Florence — married after 1912 in Dallas County, Texas, USA

Descendants

Died 28 Dec 1938 at age 70 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA

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Biography

Dr. John Hicks Florence was born on Jun. 14, 1868 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt County, Texas, USA.^[1][2] He became known as a leading breeder and exhibitor of fine Percheron horses and Hampshire sheep.

Dr. Florence began his medical career as a country doctor in Trent, Taylor County, Texas, where he had ranching interests. He received his medical training at Baylor University, Waco, McLennan County, Texas, Louisville Medical College and New York Polyclinic.

Returning to Dallas, he was Professor of Obstetrics at Baylor Hospital and chief surgeon at Parkland Hospital while serving two years as both Dallas County Health Officer and Dallas City Health Officer from 1898 to 1902.

In 1905, Texas Governor S.W.T Lanham appointed Dr. Florence as State Quarantine Officer serving at stations in Aransas Pass, Sabine Pass, Brownsville and Galveston. Governor Pat Neff later appointed him in 1922 as State Health Officer in Austin.

Dr. Florence was one of the Founders of the Great Southern Life Insurance Company in Houston where he served as Medical Director. He later was associated with the Atlas Life Insurance Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Dr. Florence continued his civic interests by representing Harris County in 1925-1926 in the Thirty-Ninth Texas Legislature under Governor Mirium A. Ferguson. He lived his entire life at the Florence Ranch and was still farming at the time of his death.^[3]

Dr. Florence died on December 28, 1938 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA.^[4] He was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his eight children, Kathleen "Kittie" Best Florence in 1912 whom he married in 1889. He was survived by his second wife Estella J. Florence. He was buried at Mesquite Cemetery in Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," index and images, Family Search (accessed 20 January 2015), John Florence in household of David Florence, Texas, United States; citing p. 153, family 1234, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,106.
2. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Department of Commerce
   Bureau Of The Census
   The United State Census of 1870, conducted during June 1870, determined the population to be 38,555,983 - an increase of 22.62 percent since the 1860 Census
   My Heritage - Accessed 20 January 2015
   (click to see larger)
   
3. ↑ Obituary - Dr John Hicks - Thursday, December 29, 1938. Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas), Section I, Page Twelve.
4. ↑ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, Family Search (accessed 20 January 2015), John H Florence, 28 Dec 1938; citing certificate number 4087, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,860.
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #18215493

See also:

• "United States Census, 1880," index and images, Family Search (accessed 20 January 2015), John H Florence in household of J H Florence, Precinct 3, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district 63, sheet 217D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1299; FHL microfilm 1,255,299.

• "United States Census, 1920," index and images, Family Search (accessed 20 January 2015), John H Florence, Houston Ward 4, Harris, Texas, United States; citing sheet 3A, family 326, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,814.

• "United States Census, 1930," index and images, Family Search (accessed 20 January 2015), John H Florence 1st, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0112, sheet 8B, family 126, line 65, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2349; FHL microfilm 2,342,083.

• "Florence Ranch Homestead". City of Mesquite (Texas, USA).

• "Florence Ranch Homestead". Texas Lakes Trail Region. Texas Historical Commission.

• A Stake in the Prairie. Photo of Dr. John Hicks Florence talking to nurses outside what was then Parkland Hospital. Facebook.

• Mesquite City Cemetery Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society.

• Marriages Dallas County, Texas, Vol. 3, Books I-J-K, 1885-1891. Dallas Genealogical Society.

• "Pedigree Resource File," database, Family Search (accessed 2015-01-21), entry for John Hicks Florence Dr., submitted by felbmoss2723113.

Acknowledgments

The Profile Manager would like to thank the following people who Volunteered their time in the Collaboration on this profile:

Terry Wright, Karen Tobo, Rowan Conroy, Anne B, Gaile Connolly, Paula J, Paul Curran

She also would like to thank anyone else who contributed in any way to the collaboration of this profile. Thank you One and All